The time clock is ticking the moment patients enter your waiting room. How soon do you greet them? How long will they wait until they are called to the back?  Respect for a patient’s time is perhaps among the most highly valued attributes of the patient experience. It’s also very frequently overlooked. So why is time management in a medical office so hard to control, and what can be done about it? Let us count the ways. 

Topics: Practice management, medical office certification, Certified Medical Office Manager, medical office, time management, cmom certification, medical office leadership, Medical Office Management, medical office administration

Staffing shortages in medical practices is a growing concern. This issue not only affects the efficiency and quality of care but also places increased stress on existing staff and can lead to burnout. Addressing this problem requires a multi-faceted approach, combining innovative strategies with proactive management. Here’s a look at some practical steps that medical practices can take to mitigate staff shortages and improve overall practice management.

Topics: medical practice issues, administrative burdens, medical office leadership, personnel management, medical office training

Leading a busy medical practice comes with an incredible amount of responsibility. There's no time to stop and take a breath when everywhere you turn something or someone needs your attention. Whether it's hiring and supervising office staff, managing the practice cash flow, maintaining compliance, or ensuring patients are seen within a reasonable timeframe, each day presents new challenges. Studying to become a Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM) can boost your knowledge and help you become a more effective and efficient practice manager.

Here are a few more reasons why you should get a CMOM certification:

Topics: Practice management, CMOM, medical office certification, Certified Medical Office Manager, medical office leadership

Topics: Practice management, medical office staff, diversity and inclusion, medical office leadership, patient satisfaction, Care Management, patient engagement, patient relations

There’s a familiar saying: Behind every good leader is a great team. One cannot work without the other. Building team trust and acceptance is a key driver of successful practice managers, says Kem Tolliver, BS, CMPE, CMC, CMOM, a revenue cycle management expert, co-author of, Revenue Cycle Management: Don’t Get Lost in the Financial Maze published by MGMA®, and business owner based in Maryland. She says that great leaders are exceptional influencers.

Topics: Practice management, medical practice issues, medical office staff, medical office leadership, change management

By now, every medical practice leader in the nation has completed the "school of hard knocks" apprenticeship in Crisis Management, compliments of COVID-19. Hopefully, most have made it through unscathed and learned a lot in the process. Now that the pandemic waves appear to be subsiding, some medical office managers may be wondering whether to relax protocols and get back to pre-pandemic normalcy, stay on course, or prepare for new possible threats. The answers will present themselves in due time. 

Topics: medical office compliance, workplace violence, emergency preparedness, Opioid Addiction, medical office leadership, personnel management, Practice safety

Whether you are new to Practice Management Institute, a certified professional, enrolled in, or inquired about medical office training, you have probably interacted with Kathleen Riexinger at some point. She has worked with PMI for two decades and recently received a well-deserved promotion to Director of Student Experience. She chose the new title, said PMI President/CEO David T. Womack, and it fits her to a tee.

Topics: Practice management, medical office manager topics, medical practice issues, medical office staff, administrative burdens, medical office leadership, medicare compliance

The average listener retains only about 50 percent of a conversation. After 48 hours, retention drops to about 25 percent. Everyone working in a healthcare setting, listen up! Poor listening skills can result in relaying incorrect information to a provider or erroneously transcribing information into a patient file. These errors impact the quality of patient care and may even lead to accusations of fraud.

Topics: medical office manager topics, medical office leadership

If you dread conducting employee performance reviews, you're not alone. But perception is everything; a performance evaluation does not have to be confrontational. it can be an uplifting and productive opportunity to connect with your team members. Reviews are a good time to formally recognize your team members for going above and beyond. It is also a confidential space to address problems head-on and provide a pathway for improvement. What you say, and how you say it must be carefully considered during a review to avoid a negative result.

Topics: medical office manager topics, cmom certification, medical practice issues, medical office staff, medical office leadership

Rachel K. Downey, MHA, is an Administrator at Dermatology Associates of Virginia where she has worked for more than six years. Founded in 1969 by Richmond native Charles M. Caravati, Jr., M.D., the practice has grown to 16 Board-certified physicians and four mid-level providers practicing at six central Virginia locations with a goal to excel in quality, patient experience, and cost-effectiveness.

Topics: medical practice issues, emergency preparedness, financial management, medical office leadership, COVID, change management

No matter where you are in your career, long-range planning and determination will help you achieve your goals faster. And if your plan includes rising the ranks in medical office management, then experience, time management, confidence, and great people skills will help you get there. Add certification in medical office management to the mix, and you've got a long-term recipe for success! 

Don't know where to start? Here are a few steps to help get you on your way to becoming a Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM). We know you can do it, so let's get you there!

Topics: CMOM, PMI Certification, medical office, medical office leadership